Cushion or receptacle



Sept. 12, 1950 B. A. DODD 2,521,780

CUSHIQN 0R RECEPTACLE Filed June 12, 1947 //IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/ BERTHA A Z7000,

Patented Sept. 12, 1950 UNITED STATES rATsNr OFFICE I CUSHION R REoEP'rAo E Bertha A. Dodd, Hot Springs, Ark. ,Application une 12, 1947,.1SeriatNo. 754,141

, 3Claims. (o1..5-;-s3s) This invention relates to a novel andimproved receptacle designed to be filled with air, hot or cold water or ice to serve as a head rest or cushion, hot or cold water bottle or ice cap for use in supporting a part of a human body being treated or holding a remedial agent of the character set forth.

One object of the invention is to provide a receptacle of a novel form and construction Which is adapted for any or all of such uses.

Another object of the invention is to provide a receptacle of the character set forth adapted for use as a pneumatic head rest or cushion to support the head and portions of the neck and back of a person resting or sleeping on the back, or while receiving hair, facial or other beauty treatments, or medical, dental or surgical treatments, while lying in such a recumbent position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a head rest or cushion which will comfortably support the head at its base adjoining the back of the neck and the portion of the back adjoining the neck beneath and across the space between the shoulder blades so as to relieve'the neck from supporting strain and prevent undue pressure upon the adjacent portion of the spinal column and on the'nerves, muscles and blood circulatory channels at these points which, in the use of an ordinary head rest or pillow, are subjected to pressures causing physical discomfort and disturbances not inducive or conducive to comfort, rest or sleep.

- Still another object of the invention is to provide a head cushion for female use which will support the head so as to allow the hai at the back of the head to be draped backwardly and kept away from the point of support and prevented from being crushed, tangled or mussed,

so that a hair do may be maintained in proper condition and shape while the user is resting or sleeping or being given hair, facial or other treatments.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a head cushion for the use of beauty treatment operators, doctors, dentists and others whereby their patients may be given comfortable head support while under treatment.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a receptacle of compact construction and form adapting it for home use as well as to be 5 conveniently packed in a luggage bag for transportation and use by travelers in overnight, week. end and other trips.

In the accompanying drawing showing a proferred form of embodiment of my invention:

Figure l is aview in side elevation showing the use of the receptacleas ahead cushion.

'Figure 2 is an enlarged view in side elevation of the receptacle per se. Figure 3 is a top plan view of the receptacle. -Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same. In carrying my invention into practice, I provide a receptacle l'inade of rubber or other like resilient material'and having a rear upstanding supporting portion Zand a forwardly extending supporting or apron portion 3, formed as a unitary structure or article of manufacture. In the use of'the device asa head cushion, as shown, the portion l provides a head supporting portion or bolster while the-portion2 serves'as aback supporting portion to support the back in the region of the neck. The receptacle or cushion in general consists of a hollow inflatable body formed of a bottom wall l, a rear Wall 5, side walls 6, and a top wall including an upper wall portion l and a'lower wall portion 8. These wall portions are suitably united to'the-Walls l, 5 and 6 to form the hollow body. Provided on one of-the side walls is a fi1ling or inflating tube or valve 9 whereby the body may be filled with air by mouth pressure or the useof a suitable pump. Tube 9 may also be of a type to adapt the device to be filled with hot or cold water or crushed ice and closed by any suitable closure means.-

As shown, the bottom wall d is flat and coextensive in length and width with the portions 2 and 3, the rear wall 5 is straight and vertical, although it may be somewhat curved, and the side walls 6 are straight'and vertical; while the wall portion 1 extends on a curved arc from the top of the rear wall 'to a point below the horizontal center of the rear wall and is reentrantly curved and joined to the inne margin of the wall portion 8 at a level above the bottom 4 and below the horizontal center of the head supporting portion of bolster I, from which point of joinder the wall portion 8 slopes or extends at a forward and downward angle to its front margin Where it joins the front margin of the wall 4. The wall portion 8 and the forward portions of the walls 4 are extended on curved lines to give a forwardly tapering, triangular or V-form to the apron part 3, as shown clearly in Figure-3.

The receptacle or cushion may be of any suitable lehgth and width and or" any suitable depth at the bolster and apron portions, and may be manufactured in one or more standard sizes to suit general conditions, and it may be molded or otherwise fabricated or natural or synthetic rubber or of fabric and rubber as an airtight hollow body. This body may be of uniform thickness and reinforced by reinforcing additions or its portions may be made of different thicknesses to give the desired reinforcing effect without undue stiffness. The body may be inflated to a degree sufficient to serve as a cushioning support having capacity to yield sufficiently under pressure to give adequate support with a soft cushioning action. I

The wall portion 1 is reentrantly curved at its lower front portion to conform to the shape of the base of the head adjoining the back'of the neck while the slope of the wall 8 is such as to conform to the inclination of the back of the reclining person in the region of the center of the back and across the space'between the shoulder blades, whereby the head and back will be yieldingly supported for relative movements and toy'cushion thehead and neck to relieve strain on the neck and to prevent undue pressure upon the nerves, muscles andblood-circulatory channels in the neck and about the spine, whereby "the person may 'be comfortably supported at these points in a manner conducive to rest and sleep. The longitudinal taper of the apron portion, the reduced and of which fits between the shoulder blades, provides at the inner end of the apron a broad support for the shoulder blades to reston,

while the reduced end provides a relatively narrower portion of such width as to fit, between the shoulder blades to prevent the cushion from slippingor shifting laterally out of position.

It will be observed that the spaces or chambers of the portion 2 and 3arein communication so that thewhile internalarea of the cushion may be filled with air and the air allowed to shift for a proper cushioning action as the portions 2 and 3 yield under pressure-of the head and back of the person thereon. In practice the rear wall, and-otherportionsof the cushion, may be reinforced by either thickening the material or using different numbers of Iplies of material, or in any "other desired manner.

The receptacle or cushion may be used at home by a person desiringto rest or nap in acomfortable manner and in a manner to prevent mussing of the hair or injury to a hair do-or dressing.

It will be observed by reference to Figure l that the form of the head cushion allows the-hair-to fall or to be draped behind it-so that pressure on the looks at the backof the head will :be p-revented. The provision of the inflating valve allows thecushion to be easily and conveniently inflated and deflated, andthe cushioniissmall enough to adapt it to be carriedby a travelerin a suit case or traveling bag with other luggage. While the cushionisdesigned for personaluseby individuals, it may also be used by beauty parlor operators, banbers, dentists, -medical doctors, surgeons and others in givingfacial treatments and performing other operations while the patient is reclining and cornfortablysupported while the work'is being done. OthGIillSGS and advantages of the invention will ice-readily apparent toopcrators and professionpeopl-e of the character described without a'further andextended description.

As stated, the cushion is designedrmore'particularly for supporting the head of ai-person resting in a reclining position on his or her back, but it may obviously be used by a person resting on his or her side, in which case the head will also be sup-ported in a manner to prevent neck 4 strain, and, if the person is a women, will support the head in a manner to prevent injury to a hair do. Also by suitable modification of the inlet tube or valve 9 it may be used as a hot water, cold water or ice receptacle, i. e., as a water bottle, or ice cap for any of the uses such devices are ordinarily employed as the novel formation of the receptacle adapts it to be applied to various portions of the [body in the treatment of various ills or affections.

While the form and construction of the cushion as herein shown and described is preferred, it will, of course, be understood that it may be variously modified in shape and construction within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A readily portable receptacle of the character described comprising a comparatively short and lnarrowhollow body having a flat bottom, an upright rear wall, side walls, a top and front wall portion curved continuously from the upper end of therear wall-on an arc forwardly and downwardly and terminating at the front thereof above the flat bottom and at a level belowthe horizontal center of the rear wall, said back and top and front wall portions being arranged above the rear portion of the bottom wall and forming with the rear portions of the side walls a head and necksupport shaped to conformably fit the back of the head and the neck of a person reclining on hisor her back, and a wall extending from the baseof the front wall portion above the front portion of the bottom wall and sloping from the front wallportion downwardly and forwardly and forming with the bottom wall and adjacent pore tions of the side walls an apron of relatively shallow depth with relation to the height of the head and neck support and arranged below the horizontalcenter of the had and neck support and of .a restricted length and width to support the back of the person solely in the region of the shoulder blades. I V

2:.A readily portable receptacle of the character described comprising a comparatively short and narrow'hollow-bodyhaving a fiat bottom,an upright. rear wall, side walls, a top and front wall portion curved continuously from the upper: end of the rear wall on an arm forwardly and downwardly andterminating in a reentrantly curved base at the front thereof above the flat bottom and at, a level below the horizontal center of the rear wall, said back and top and front wall portions being arranged above the rear portion of the-bottom wall and-forming with the rear portions of the side walls a head and neck support shaped toiconformably fit the back of the head and the neckof a person reclining on his or her back, and a wall extending from the reentrantly curved baseof the front wall portion abovelthe front portion of the bottom wall and sloping from the frontwallportion downwardly and forwardly and forming with the bottom wall and adjacent portionsof the side walls an apron of relatively shallow depth with relation to-the height of the head and neck support and arranged below the horizontal center of the head and neck support and tapering therefrom forwardly substantially to a point at its forward end. to support the neck of; the person solely beneath and between the shoulder blades.

3. A readily portable receptalble of the character described-comprising a comparatively short and narrow hollow body having a flat bottom, an

upright rear wall, side walls, a top and front wall portion curved continuously fromthe upper end of the rear wall of an arc forwardly and downwardlyand terminating at the front thereof above the fiat bottom and at a level below the horizontal center of the rear wall, said back and top and front wall portions being arranged above the rear portion of the bottom Wall and forming with the rear portions of the sidewalls a head and neck support shaped to conformably fit the back of the head and the neck of a person reclining on his or her back, and a wall extending from the base of the front wall portion above the front portion of the bottom wall and sloping from the front wall portion downwardly and forwardly and forming with the bottom wall and adjacent portions of the side walls, an apron of relatively shallow depth with relation to the height of the head and neck support and arranged below the horizontal center of the head and neck rest and tapering therefrom forwardly substantially to a narrow forward end so as to provide an apron of a restricted length and width to support the back of the person beneath and between the shoulder blades, one of the side Wall portions being provided with a, filling inlet communicating with the 

